Automobile



Get. 12 1926.

J. v. KREHBIEL AUTOMOBILE Filed Dec. 21, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 12 1926.

J. v. KREHBIEL AUTOMOBILE Filed Dec. 21, 1925 I5 Sheets-Sheet Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

UNITED A STATES JOHN V. KREHBIEL, DECEASED, LATE OF KREHBIEIJ, ADMINISTRATOR,

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLTAMSVILLE, NEW YORK; BY AARON J. OF WILLIAMSVILLE, NEW YORK.

AUTOMOBILE.

Application filed December 21. 192B. 7 Serial No. 682,100.

fall and adapt themselves to any unevenness in in the roadwa while at the same time enabling transmission of power to said axle and also permitting of steering the same in any position which itmay assume.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of an auto mobile chassis constructed in accordance with this invention. Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line 33, Fi 2.

gimilar characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures.

The main frame of the automobile may be of any suitable construction that for example, shown in the drawings as onesuitable for the purposes ofthis invention comprising two longitudinal side bars 10, 10, and upper and lower cross pieces 11, 12 connecting these side bars at suitable places. The numeral 13 represents one of the axles of the car v relatively to the frame and in the present instance is arranged over the main frame of the car. At its oppositeends this axle is. provided with wheels 14 of any suitable character which run on the roadway. This axle extends lengthwise through an axle housing which preferably comprises two tubular sections 9, 9. The main frame is yieldingly suspended from the axle housing by means which will permit the latter and the axle and wheels to turn horizontally for steering purposes, this being accomplished inthe present instanceby a multiple leaf spring 20 arranged transversely below the main frame vertically in line and parallel with the axle housing and pivotally connected centrally by a vertical king bolt 21 with the lower cross bar 12 of the frame, while each of its outer ends is connected with the corresponding end of the adjacent housing section by a transversely swinging link or hanger 22. v j

The driving casingis pivotally mounted so as to turn about the axis of the driving which is arranged transversely .bar and shaft as the axle and frame movevertically [relatively to each other, this being accomplished'preferably by brackets 37 which are mounted on the cross piece 11, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Power may be applied to the driving shaft in any approved manner as best suits the particular from a prlme mover, such as a gas engine purpose for whichthe vehicle is tended. For instance power may be taken mounted on the main frame; and 'connected'{ with the driving shaft by a speed changing and reversing mechanism which permits of propelling the car either forwardly or backwardly and at different rates of speed. The bevel gear wheels 39, 40 secured to the driv-V ing shaft, as shown in F igs.'1 and 3, maybe employed as part of such variable speed and reversing mechanism. Means are provided fo'r'rocking the axle horizontally relatively to the frame for the purpose of steering the car, which means in their preferred form lows:

41 represents a bow-shaped bracket secured at its opposite ends to the axle housare constructed as fol- 1ng sections on opposite sides of the ballandv socket joint and projecting rearwardly therefrom; lVith the rear part of this'bracket isconnected a gearsegment 42-which is curved horizontally concentrically with the axis of the ball and socket joint and'having its teeth 43 on the rear edge thereof. This segment is guided on the frame so as to move about the axis of the ball and socket, jointoas a center and for this purpose the underside of the segment is provided with a curved groove 44 which'receives the upper part of a curved guide bar 45 mounted at its opposite ends on the side bars of the main frame. This segment is held inplace against'lifting from the guide bar by a vertical coupling bolt 46; pass ng through an opening in the segment and through a curved slot 47 in the bearing with the head 48 guide 7 at its upper ,end against the top of the segment while its screw nut 49 bears through the medium of an interposed washer against the under-' side of the guide bar. A connection is. formed between the bracket 41 and the segment whereby a movement of the latter about the axis of the ball and socket joint will cause the axle to be turned inv unison therewith for steering the car. This connection is preferably effected by a horizontil tal coupling bolt having a horizontal longitudinal shank 50 passing through a circular opening in an upright lug 51 on the rear part of the bracket ell, a head 52 arranged at the front end of this shank and bearing against the front side of the lug 51, and a U-shaped yoke or fork 53 connected with the rear end of the shank 50 pivotally secured to the head 48 by a horizontal transverse pivot bolt 5 k.

As the axle rocks vertically relatively to the frame the bracket 4L1 turns about the shank 50 as a pivot and as the axle moves vertically bodily relatively to the frame the yoke 53 turns vertically about the transverse bolt 5 f as a pivot. These means therefore operate as a universal connection between the steering segment and the bracket which is operatively connected with the axle. In order to avoid any cramping action a slight play is formed between the yoke 53 of the bracket 6:1, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, which compensates for the difference in the length of the radial line from the driving shaft to the axle and from the segment to the axle which difference produces a slight longitudinal movement of the yoke as the axle rises and falls. The sliding movement of the segment for steering the car may be produced by various means, for instance by a worm 55 meshing with the teeth of the gear segment and mounted on a horizontal shaft 56 which is journaled in fixed bearings 57 on the main frame, this shaft being turned either by hand or by power in one direction or the other through the medium of gearing of which the opposite facing bevel gears 58, 59 form parts. An axle mounting'and steering mechanism of this character may be mounted either at one or both ends of the frame. of the car, and operated either in unison or independently of each other, as best suits the particular requ "ement WVhat is claimed as said JOHN V. KREHBIEL is 2- 1. An automobile comprising a main frame, and axle turnable horizontally rela tively to the frame and provided with wheels, means for yieldingly connecting said axle and frame, and means for rocking the axle horizontally comprising a yoke operatively connected with the axle, and a segment movable concentrically about the pivotal connection between the axle and frame and having a pivotal connection with said yoke.

2. An automobile comprising a main frame, an axle provided with wheels and pivotally mounted on said frame so as to be capable of rocking both horizontally and vertically relatively thereto, a bracket operatively connected with said axle, a steering segment mounted on said frame so as tov be movable concentrically about the axis of the invention of the,

the pivotal connection between the axle and the frame, and a coupling between said segment and bracket and having a horizontal longitudinal pivot.

3. An automobile comprising a main frame, an axle provided with wheels and pivotally mounted on said frame so as to be capable of rocking both horizontally and verticall relatively thereto and also movable bodily relatively to the frame, a bracket operatively connected with said axle, a steering segment mounted on said frame so as to be movable concentrically about the axis of the pivotal connection between the axle and frame, and a universal coupling arranged between said segment and bracket.

4:. An automobile comprising a main frame, an axle provided with wheels and pivotally mounted on said frame so as to be capable of rocking both horizontally and vertically relatively thereto and also movable bodily relatively to the frame, a bracket operatively connected with said axle, a steering segment mounted on said frame so as to be movable concentrically about the axis of the pivotal connection between the axle and frame, and provided on its underside with a curved groove, a curved guide bar mounted on the frame and engaging with said groove and provided with a curved slot, an upright coupling bolt passing through said segment and the slot of said guide, and a universal joint connecting said upright coupling bolt with said bracket.

5. An automobile comprising a main frame, an axle provided with wheels and pivotally mounted on said frame so as to be capable of rocking both horizontally and vertically relatively thereto and also movable bodily relatively to the frame, a bracket operatively connected with said axle, a steering segment mounted on saidframe. so as to be movable concentrically about the axis of the pivotal connection between the axle and frame and provided on its underside with a curved groove, a curved guide bar mounted on the frame and engaging with sait groove and provided with a curved slot, an upright coupling boltpassing through said segment and the slot of said guide, and a universal coupling having a horizontal longitudinal pivot connecting with the bracket and a horizontal transverse pivot connecting with said vertical coupling bolt.

6. An automobile comprising a main frame, an axle turnable horizontally relatively to the frame and provided with wheels, means for yieldingly connecting said axle and frame, and means for rocking the axle horizontally comprising a yoke operatively connected, with the axle, a segment movable concentrically about the pivotal connection between the axle and frame and havinga pivotal connection with said yoke, and having gear teeth, and a worm wheel Eli Cir

mounted on the frame and meshing with the teeth of said gear segment.

7. An automobile comprising a main frame, an axle having wheels and mounted on the frame so as to be capable of rocking both vertically and horizontally and also moving bodily vertically, a casing which is pivoted with one part on the main frame to turn vertically, a universal connection between another part of said casing and the axle, asteering segment movable on the main frame about the vertical axis of the pivotal connection between said axle and the casing,

' and means for connecting the segment with said axle including a universal joint and providing slack between the same and the axle inva direction lengthwise of the automobile.

Witness my hand this 24 day of November, 1923.

AARON J. KREHBIEL, Administrator of the Estate of John V.

Krehbz'el, Deceased. 

